Pound could surge in ‘frenetic’ week of Brexit and BOE news, ING says Sterling could retake $1.43 next week if all the cards “fall perfectly into place”It could be a wild ride for the pound this week. With key Brexit transition talks, a Bank of England meeting and the closely watched wage data all on deck, the U.K. currency could rally to a fresh two-month high, according to ING.

Toys ‘R’ Us’ is still facing major challenges in the liquidation process The toy retailer made a number of missteps pre-bankruptcy, leading to the need to liquidate, experts sayToys ‘R’ Us, which announced that it will close its U.S. stores, will have to manage a liquidation process that experts call a “big undertaking.”

Perry Ellis shares sink after weak outlookPerry Ellis International Inc. shares fell 3.8% in Friday premarket trading after the fashion brand gave guidance that is below consensus. Net income for the quarter was $39.7 million, or $2.56 per share, up from $9.0 million, or 59 cents per share, last year. Adjusted EPS was 88 cents. Revenue totaled $227.3 million, up from $204.2 million year-over-year. The FactSet consensus was for EPS of 88 cents and revenue of $226.0 million. Perry Ellis expects fiscal 2019 sales in the range of $855.0 million to $865.0 million and EPS in the range of $1.80 to $1.90. For comparison purposes, the company adjusted its 2018 revenue and earnings results to account for the transition of the Laundry business to a license model and the elimination of Bon-Ton Stores Inc. sales. The FactSet consensus is for sales of $1.17 billion and EPS of $2.99. Perry Ellis shares are up 16.1% for the past year, outpacing the S&P 500 index , which is up 15.4% for the period.

The Buckle shares jump 6.6% premarket after earnings top estimatesThe Buckle Inc. shares shot up 6.6% in premarket trade Friday, after the company reported better-than-expected earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter. The retailer said it had net income of $42 million, or 87 cents a share, in the quarter, up from $36 million, or 75 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Sales rose 0.4% to $281.2 million, while same-store sales fell 3.2%. The FactSet consensus was for EPS of 75 cents, sales of $281 million and for a same-store sales decline of 3.4%. Shares are down 3.7% in the last 12 months through Thursday, while the S&P 500 has gained 15%.

Hibbett Sports shares rise after results meet expectationsHibbett Sports Inc. shares rose nearly 1% in Friday premarket trading after fourth-quarter results met expectations. Net income totaled $9.7 million, or 51 cents per share, down from $12.1 million, or 54 cents per share, for the same period last year. The company said the tax overhaul did not have a significant impact on quarterly earnings, however results included a one-time gain of 7 cents per share due to the sale of the Team division and 8 cents per share due to an additional week. Revenue totaled $266.7 million, up from $246.9 million year-over-year. Same-store sales rose 1.6% for the quarter. The FactSet consensus was for EPS of 44 cents, sales of $267.0 million and same-store sales growth of 1.6%. The company said e-commerce accounted for 7.6% of sales for the quarter. It launched its e-commerce site in . For fiscal 2019, the company sees EPS in the range of $1.65 to $1.95 and same-store sales in the range of a 1% decline and 2% growth. The FactSet consensus is for EPS of $1.97 and same-store sales growth of 2.1%. Hibbett shares are up 7.7% for the last three months, but down 23.2% for the past year. The S&P 500 index is up 15.4% for the last 12 months.

Tiffany & Co. tops earnings estimatesTiffany & Co. TIF reported its fourth-quarter earnings Friday. Here's what you need to know: EARNINGS: The jeweler reported net income of $62 million. Excluding the impact of the new tax law and one-time items, the company earned $1.67 a share, more than the $1.64 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected.

J. Jill shares plummet 35% after new e-commerce site underperforms J. Jill’s outgoing CEO says site glitches have affected traffic and the company’s guidanceJ. Jill’s downbeat outlook is due to a new e-commerce site that’s hurting traffic and conversion.

Ulta shares fall as company's quarterly sales lose some steamShares of Ulta Beauty Inc. fell more than 5% late Thursday after the retailer reported better-than-expected earnings but comparable-store sales lost some steam. Ulta said it earned $208.2 million, or $3.40 a share, compared with $140.2 million, or $2.24 a share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted for one-time items, Ulta earned $2.75 a share, compared with $2.24 a share a year ago. Sales rose 23% to $1.94 million, compared with $1.58 million a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected GAAP earnings of $2.78 a share on sales of $1.94 billion. Comparable-store sales, including e-commerce sales, rose 8.8% compared with an increase of 17% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, Ulta said. The analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected a comparable-store sales increase of 9%. The company said it set aside $12.3 million for one-time employee bonus payments related to the U.S. tax overhaul. The company said it expects an increase in total sales in the low teens percentage range for 2018.

European stocks end higher with investors in ‘bargain-hunting mode’ H&M shares lower after sales disappoint European stocks end higher in Thursday’s session, with broad-based gains indicating a pickup in risk appetite after two sessions of losses that were in part spurred by fears of a global trade war

Toys ‘R’ Us store closures will hurt toy makers like Hasbro and Mattel Companies that have expanded to other retailers and channels might not be hit as hardToy makers Hasbro and Mattel will see a sales impact from the announcement that Toys ‘R’ Us will be closing its stores

J. Jill profit climbs, CEO Paula Bennett to retireJ.Jill Inc. JILL on Thursday reported a rise in fourth-quarter profit thanks to a gain from changes in U.S. tax law and said Chief Executive and President Paula Bennett will retire. Ms. Bennett will be succeeded by Linda Heasley, who currently serves on the board, effective April 16. The clothing retailer made a quarterly profit of $29.3 million, or 67 cents a share, compared with a profit of $2 million, or 5 cents a share, a year earlier.

Dollar General shares jump after same-store sales beat, upbeat outlookDollar General Corp. shares jumped 7.5% in Thursday premarket trading after the discount retailer reported fourth-quarter same-store sales that beat expectations and gave an upbeat earnings outlook. Net income for the quarter totaled $712.2 million, or $2.63 per share, up from $414.2 million, or $1.49 per share, for the same period last year. Adjusted EPS was $1.48. Revenue for the quarter was $6.13 billion, up from $6.01 billion year-over-year. And same-store sales rose 3.3%. The FactSet consensus was for EPS of $1.48, sales of $6.21 billion, and same-store sales growth of 2.5%. Dollar General opened 1,315 stores in 2017, a record, according to Chief Executive Todd Vasos, and plans to open 900 in 2018, along with 1,000 store remodels and 100 store relocations. On Tuesday, the company announced a 12% dividend increase to 29 cents per share, payable on or before April 24, 2018 to shareholders of record on April 10, 2018. Dollar General expects 9% sales increase for fiscal 2018, same-store sales growth in the mid-2% range and EPS of $5.95 to $6.15. Same-store sales FactSet consensus is for 2.5% growth and EPS of $5.63. Dollar General is down nearly 2% for the past three months, but up 22.5% for the last year. The S&P 500 index is up 15.3% for the past 12 months.

Japan antitrust watchdog probes Amazon againTOKYO-- Amazon.com Inc.'s Japanese unit has come under antitrust scrutiny for the second time in as many years as retailers become more dependent on the e-commerce giant for customer traffic. Officials from the Fair Trade Commission, Japan's antitrust watchdog, have visited the headquarters of Amazon Japan to see if any violations of the Antimonopoly Act have taken place, a government official said Thursday.

Men's Wearhouse parent posts narrower loss, higher salesShares of Tailored Brands Inc. jumped more than 7% late Wednesday after the Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank parent reported a narrower-than-expected fourth-quarter loss and posted sales that were above expectations. Tailored Brands said it lost $499,000, or 1 cent a share, in the quarter, compared with a loss of $30 million, or 62 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Tailored Brands broke even after one-time items, versus an adjusted loss of 19 cents in the fourth quarter of 2016. Sales rose to $860 million, from $793 million a year ago, the company said. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected a GAAP loss of 10 cents a share and an adjusted loss of 11 cents a share on sales of $810 million for the quarter. In the same press release, Tailored Brands said it sold its MW Cleaners business for about $18 million, as part of its strategy to "focus on its core businesses and unlock cash flow," it said. Tailored Brands shares ended the regular session down 0.4%.

Signet Jewelers to close 200 storesSignet Jewelers Ltd. said it will close more than 200 stores this fiscal year but open new ones outside of shopping malls, as one of the biggest mall-based chains combats slumping sales at its existing locations.

Zara parent Inditex sharpens digital focusARTEIXO, Spain -- Zara parent company Inditex SA said Wednesday it was easing the expansion of its brick-and-mortar stores and doubling down on its online growth in a bid by the world's largest fashion retailer by sales to maintain its momentum.

The big-name stocks to watch as trade-war worries are rebooted Critical information for the U.S. trading day Our call of the day says a trade war with China could make steel tariff concerns look like a walk in the park, with lots of big corporate names possibly getting tangled up this time.

U.S. business inventories jump 0.6% in January, big rise in autosBusiness inventories in the U.S. rose 0.6% in January, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Inventories in December were also revised up to a 0.6% gain from the prior estimate of 0.4%. Sales fell 0.2% in the month after a 0.5% gain in December. The rise in inventories and the drop in sales brought up the ratio of inventories to sales to 1.34 in January from 1.33 in the prior month. That's how many months it would take to sell all the inventory on hand. One year ago, the ratio was 1.37. Auto inventories jumped 1.7% in January after falling 0.3% in December.

S&P downgrades Ann Taylor parent Ascena on weak operating trends and credit metricsS&P Global Ratings downgraded Ann Taylor parent Ascena Retail Group Inc.'s rating to B from B-plus on Wednesday, after the women's apparel retailer reported declines in same-store sales and margins in its recent fiscal second-quarter earnings. "We expect Ascena's operating performance to remain challenged because of the company's lack of operating capabilities to effectively adapt to the sustained structural changes in the specialty apparel industry," S&P analyst Mathew Christy wrote in a note. The outlook on the rating is negative, meaning the agency could downgrade it again in the medium term. S&P is expecting operating trends and credit metrics to remain negative, even though it expects Ascena to pay down some debt with repatriated cash. Ann Taylor and Dressbarn are expected to continue to post negative same-store sales, which will weigh against "modestly positive" trends at Justice and Lane Bryant. "Although the company continues to execute on its operating initiatives, such as product procurement and back-office function consolidation, we believe its omnichannel capabilities, store experience, and loyalty programs lag behind peers'," said Christy. "As such, the company will likely continue to be reliant on discounting to drive traffic, which we expect to further pressure margins." Shares were up 1% on Wednesday, but have fallen 50% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 17%.

U.S. retail sales fall for third month in a row Retailers get off to slow start in 2018; auto, gas sales sinkSales at U.S. retailers fell in February for the third month in a row, but the declines were small and unlikely a sign of trouble for the broader economy.

Signet unveils transformation plan to gain shareSignet Jewelers Ltd. released its fourth-quarter earnings report Wednesday before the market opened. Here's what you need to know. PROFIT: Signet made $351.3 million, or $5.24 per share, up 18% from $297.5 million, $3.92 a share the same period the year before. On an adjusted basis, omits a benefit from reevaluating deferred tax assets of 96 cents, it earned $4.28 per share.

Express' stock soars after profit, sales beatShares of Express Inc. soared 8.9% in premarket trade Wednesday, after the apparel retailer reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit and sales that beat expectations. Net income for the quarter to Feb. 3 rose to $29.4 million, or 37 cents a share, from $22.8 million, or 29 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, such as the impact of recent tax legislation, adjusted earnings per share came to 34 cents, above the FactSet consensus of 32 cents. Revenue rose 2% to $693.8 million from $678.8 million a year ago, above the FactSet consensus of $686.8 million, as the same-store sales decline of 1.0% beat expectations of a 1.9% drop. E-commerce sales increased 20% to $203.3 million, and rose 17% on a comparable basis. The company expects first-quarter same-store to be down 1.0% to up 1.0%, compared with the FactSet consensus of a 0.5% increase. Express's stock has plunged 28.6% over the past three months through Tuesday, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF has gained 3.1% and the S&P 500 has advanced 4.3%.

Signet shares slide 4% as company unveils 3-year restructuring planSignet Jewelers Ltd. shares slid 4% in premarket trade Wednesday, after the company unveiled a restructuring plan to be carried out over the next three years as it reported earnings for its fiscal second quarter. The company said it had net income of $343 million, or $5.24 a share, in its fiscal second quarter to Feb. 3, up from $287.8 million, or $3.92 a share, in the year-earlier period. The operator of Zales, H. Samuel and Gordon's jewelry chains said excluding a tax benefit stemming from the December revamp, per-share earnings came to $4.28, ahead of the FactSet consensus of $4.20. Sales rose 1% to $2.3 billion, also ahead of the FactSet consensus of $2.2 billion. Same-store sales fell 5.2% in the quarter, matching the FactSet consensus. The company announced that it is launching a three-year transformation plan, aimed at making it an omnichannel leader in its category. The plan includes cost-savings with the proceeds to be used to invest in growth and other measures. The company is planning to sell the remaining portion of its non-prime credit card receivables and to use the proceeds to buy back shares. For fiscal 2019, Signet is expecting same-store sales to be down in the low to mid single digits. It expects sales to range from $5.9 billion to $6.1 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.75 to $4.25. The FactSet consensus is for EPS of $6.04, sales of $6.1 billion and a same-store sales decline of 1.15. Shares have fallen 29% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 17%.

Morrison's FY profit rises; does special dividendWm. Morrison Supermarkets PLC (MRW.LN) said Wednesday that fiscal 2018 pretax profit rose and declared a special dividend. For the financial period ended Feb. 4, the grocer made a profit of 380.0 million pounds ($530.6 million) compared with GBP325.0 million a year earlier. Revenue increased to GBP17.30 billion from GBP16.32 billion, while like-for-like sales excluding fuel and VAT rose 2.8% compared with 1.9% growth previously.

Zara parent Inditex FY profit up; sales sluggishA CORUNA, Spain--Zara's parent company reported annual results on Wednesday that were weak for the fashion behemoth but better than many competitors, distinguishing Inditex SA (ITX.MC) as a company that has been able to stand firm against the headwinds battering the retail industry.

Scoot over, pork pies — quiche is now in Britain’s inflation-tracking goods basket Leggings are in, lager gets the boot from the ‘shopping basket’Sorry, pork pies, but the U.K.’s love of French quiche has proven strong enough to bump the traditional British dish from the country’s gauge of inflation as part of an annual review of Britain’s so-called “shopping basket”.

DSW abandons e-commerce startup EbuysShoe retailer DSW Inc. said Tuesday it is shuttering Ebuys business, calling it quits on an e-commerce company it bought for $62.5 million just two years ago. DSW bought the parent of retail sites ShoeMetro and ApparelSave in March 2016 in a bid to expand its online presence and grow sales, but the e-commerce startup proved to be more a burden.

Dick's firearms restrictions turned away customersDick's Sporting Goods Inc. said its decision to no longer sell guns to anyone under 21 years old has hurt traffic and retail sales as the move upset some customers and exacerbated headwinds to its hunting and gun business.

Amazon stock rises after analyst predicts strong growth for ad businessShares of Amazon.com Inc. are up 0.5% in premarket trading Tuesday, putting it on track to extend its recent streak of gains, after a Jefferies analyst raised his price target on the stock to $1,850 from $1,750. The company's ad business could grow by more than 40% annually through 2022, argued Jefferies analyst Brent Thill, reaching $22 billion by then. "Amazon's billions of touch points with consumers and end of funnel sales conversion are an advertiser's dream for targeting and attribution," he wrote. Thill believes that growth in Amazon's ad business won't hurt Facebook Inc. or Alphabet Inc.'s Google. Amazon shares have closed at a record high in the past six sessions and are up 87% over the past 12 months, while the S&P 500 is up 17%.

A lot more Stitch Fix stock could be coming after earnings Stitch Fix missed earnings expectations Monday but beat on revenueNearly 38 million more shares of Stitch Fix Inc. will be eligible to trade in public markets, months ahead of the typical six months lockup agreements span, according to Securities and Exchange Commission documents.

Dick's Sporting Goods' stock sinks after sales miss, downbeat outlook offsets profit beatShares of Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. sank 6.3% in premarket trade Tuesday, after the sporting goods retailer beat fiscal fourth-quarter profit expectations, but missed on sales and provided a downbeat outlook. Net income for the quarter to Feb. 3 rose to $116.0 million, or $1.11 a share, from $90.2 million, or 81 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Recent tax legislation resulted in a $6 million charge during the quarter. Excluding non-recurring items, adjusted earnings per share came to $1.22, above the FactSet consensus of $1.20. Revenue rose to $2.66 billion from $2.48 billion, but was below the FactSet consensus of $2.74 billion, as the same-store sales decline of 2.0% compared with expectations of a 0.9% decline. For 2018, the company expects same-store sale to be flat to down in the low single-digit percentage range, while the FactSet consensus is for a 0.2% rise. The stock had rallied 7.6% over the past three months through Monday, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF had gained 1.5% and the S&P 500 had advanced 4.5%.

DSW's stock drops after sales miss, downbeat outlookShares of DSW Inc. dropped 2.6% in premarket trade Tuesday, after the footwear retailer missed fiscal fourth-quarter revenue expectations and provided a downbeat outlook, offsetting a profit beat and a raised dividend. Net income for the quarter to Feb. 3 fell to $11.7 million, or 15 cents a share, from $30.5 million, or 38 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, such as the impact of acquisitions and recent tax legislation, adjusted earnings per share came to 38 cents, above the FactSet consensus of 27 cents. Revenue rose to $720.0 million from $674.6 million, below the FactSet consensus of $728.2 million, while same-store sales growth of 1.3% beat expectations of a 1.2% rise. For 2018, DSW expects "revenue growth to decrease by 1% to 3%," following 2017 growth of 3.3%, and while the FactSet consensus of $2.85 billion implies a rise of 1.8%. Separately, the company raised its quarterly dividend by 25% to 25 cents a share, with the new dividend payable April 6 to shareholders of record on March 23. The stock had lost 7.8% over the past three months through Monday, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF has gained 1.5% and the S&P 500 has advanced 4.5%.

What to watch in Zara parent Inditex's earningsSpain's Inditex SA (ITX.MC), owner of the Zara chain of clothing stores, reports its fourth-quarter results on Wednesday before markets open. Here is what to look out for in quarter, which runs from November through January:

French Connection pretax loss narrows in full yearFrench Connection Group PLC (FCCN.LN) said Tuesday that pretax loss for fiscal 2018 narrowed as group revenue rose. For the year ended Jan. 31, the clothing retailer made a loss of 2.3 million pounds ($3.2 million) compared with a loss of GBP5.3 million the previous period. Group revenue ticked up to GBP154.0 million from GBP153.2 million, an increase French Connection said was boosted by wholesale revenue rising 8.6% to GBP70.9 million.

Tilly's shares fall more than 13% on quarterly sales missShares of Tilly's Inc. tanked more than 13% late Monday after the retailer posted fourth-quarter sales below expectations. Tilly's said it earned $6.7 million, or 23 cents a share, in the quarter, compared to $6.3 million, or 22 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Sales reached $164.3 million, up 2.6% from $160.2 million a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected earnings of 19 cents a share on sales of $166.4 million. Comparable-store sales, which includes e-commerce sales, were flat, versus an increase of 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2017. Tilly's said it expects first-quarter comparable-store sales to range from flat to a low single-digit percentage increase, and per-share results to range from a loss of 1 cent a share to earnings of 3 cents a share. Tilly's shares ended the regular trading session up 5.4%.

Mattel, Hasbro stocks sink after report of Toys 'R' Us store liquidation plansShares of toymakers Mattel Inc. and Hasbro Inc. sank in premarket trade Friday, after that bankrupt toy retailer Toys "R" Us is preparing to liquidate its U.S. stores rather than restructure its debt. Mattel's stock tumbled 6.4%, as Toys "R" Us accounted for 8% of the company's sales in 2017, down from 11% in 2016. Hasbro's stock dropped 3.1%, with Toys "R" Us accounting of 9% of 2017 sales, in line with 2016 sales. SunTrust RH analyst Michael Swartz said that while a Toys "R" Us liquidation would not be a complete surprise, it is "certainly not a positive" for companies that count the store chain as a customer. However, he believes most major toy manufacturers "had already begun to scale back exposure to the retailer." Swartz is maintaining his earnings estimates for Mattel and Hasbro for now, but expects a "downward bias" in the near term. Mattel's stock has tumbled 36.6% over the past 12 months and Hasbro shares have lost 4.1%, while the S&P 500 has gained 15.8%.

Big Lots' stock tumbles as surprise same-store sales drop offsets profit beat, dividend hikeShares of Big Lots Inc. tumbled 7.5% in premarket trade Friday, after the discount retailer beat profit expectations but reported a surprise decline in same-store sales. Net income for the quarter to Feb. 3 rose to $104.8 million, or $2.46 a share, from $90.1 million, or $1.99 a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, such as a expense of $4.5 million related to recent tax legislation, adjusted earnings per share came to $2.57, above the FactSet consensus of $2.44. Revenue increased to $1.64 billion from $1.58 billion, just shy of the FactSet consensus of $1.66 billion, while same-store sales declined 0.1%, compared with expectations of 1.3% growth. For 2018, the company expects EPS to rise to $4.75 to $4.95 from 2017 adj. EPS of $4.45. The FactSet 2018 EPS consensus is $4.97. Separately, the company said it increased its quarterly dividend 20% to 30 cents a share from 25 cents a share, with the new dividend payable April 6 to shareholders of record on March 23. The stock has shed 9.5% over the past three months through Thursday, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF has slipped 0.4% and the S&P 500 has gained 3.3%.

American Eagle's stock surges after sales beat, upbeat outlook and raised dividendShares of American Eagle Outfitters Inc. rallied 3.1% in premarket trade Thursday, after the apparel retailer reported a fiscal fourth-quarter profit that matched expectations but beat on sales, provided an upbeat outlook and raised its dividend. Net income for the quarter to Feb. 3 rose to $94.0 million, or 52 cents a share, from $54.6 million, or 30 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, such as a benefit from recent tax legislation, adjusted earnings per share came to 44 cents, in line with the FactSet consensus. Revenue rose to $1.23 billion from $1.10 billion, just above the FactSet consensus of $1.21 billion, while same-store sales growth of 8% beat expectations of a 7.2% rise. The gross margin rate decreased to 34.6% or revenue from 35.4%, reflecting higher promotional activity. The company expects first-quarter same-store sales to rise in the mid-single digit percentage range, while the FactSet consensus is for a 3.2% rise. Separately, the company raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to 13.75 cents a share, to be payable April 27 to shareholders of record on April 13. The stock has soared 19% over the past three months, while the S&P 500 has gained 2.8%.

Kroger's stock tumbles after profit, same-store sales match expectationsShares of Kroger Co. tumbled 5.6% in premarket trade Thursday, after the supermarket chain reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit that matched expectations. Net income for the quarter to Feb. 3 rose to $854 million, or 96 cents a share, from $506 million, or 53 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, adjusted earnings per share came to 63 cents, in line with the FactSet consensus. Revenue rose to $31.03 billion from $27.61 billion, above the FactSet consensus of $30.82 billion, while same-store sales growth of 1.5% matched expectations. Gross margin was 21.9% of sales, compared with 22.4% in the sequential third quarter. Looking ahead, the company expects 2018 same-store sales growth of 1.5% to 2.0%, surrounding the FactSet consensus of 1.6%. The stock has lost 1.7% over the past three months through Wednesday, while the S&P 500 has gained 2.8%.

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